Forty-Three (57 Ways to Beat Loneliness & Depression)
Have time for people
One Sunday, not that long ago church had ended and I was in a rush. I’m not really sure where I was in a rush to, or whether I was just pretending to be in a rush so I did not have to look like I had nothing going on in my life (a discussion for another time). But there I am rushing out of Church, and two of the brightest most beautiful girls accosted me and started talking about their lives. It was the most beautiful thing ever. I don’t quite remember what we said but I know that was probably one of the most fun conversations I have had at the Church. We talked about school, about books, about where we saw ourselves in the future. I smiled so much, I wanted them to have a better life than I could ever imagine, and I wanted them not to have to deal with some of the hurts that I have lived through. At the end of the conversation, they felt like they had been heard, and I felt like I was at the right place at the right time doing what God wanted me to do.
I could have just said hi and walked away, but listening to the girls not only made them feel good, it made me feel good as well. So take the time to listen to people, it may be the first time in a long time that they actually experience that kind of quiet acceptance and acknowledgment.
Remember life is more about what you give than what you receive.